Israel situation CRITICAL (CIDI)

In just over 72 hours, I depart for a very important trip to Israel that coincides with President Trump’s historic visit to the Holy Land. With President Trump expected to announce CRITICAL decisions impacting U.S. relations with Israel, I have instructed our team to make one more petition delivery prior to the President’s visit.

We must do everything in our power to urge President Trump to make it clear to the world that the United States unquestionably honors Jerusalem as the undisputed and undivided capital of Israel by moving the U.S. Embassy there.

President Trump made a campaign promise to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. It’s up to friends of Israel, like you and me, to insist he follows through. Jerusalem is not just the rightful capital of Israel, sacred to the Jewish people; it’s also home to the holiest sites of the Christian faith. Please see my important update below to learn how you can make your voice heard THIS WEEK in support of America’s greatest ally in the Middle East — Mat.

May 16, 2017

From the desk of:
Mat Staver, President
Christians in Defense of Israel

The Trump administration is under increasing pressure to NOT move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem — the Jewish state’s rightful and eternal capital. But, by not doing so, the President would break a key promise he made throughout his campaign and repeated since entering the Oval Office. According to a report by CNN:

“Top officials at the State Department, Department of Defense and the U.S. intelligence community are urging the White House not to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, warning that such a decision would be harmful to the peace process and carry broader regional risks. … Despite those warnings, some of Trump’s top advisers are urging him to make good on his promise to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and announce plans to move the embassy there during his visit next week, and Trump has yet to reach a decision, two White House officials confirmed.”

Also making news is an ugly spat that erupted this week between the State Department advance team and the Israeli Prime Minister’s staff over Trump’s visit to the Western Wall. On Monday, Israeli media outlets reported:

“In a bitter diplomatic incident, a senior member of the US delegation making preparations for Donald Trump’s visit to Israel next week angrily rejected a request that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accompany the president when he visits the Western Wall, and then sniped at his Israeli counterparts that the Western Wall is ‘not your territory. It’s part of the West Bank.'”

As opponents of an embassy move raise their voices, I want you to know I believe that it’s exactly the right thing to do at this crucial time.

Moving the embassy to Jerusalem would send a powerful message to the United Nations and the entire international community.Quite frankly, we are fed up with the rampant rise in anti-Semitism over the past few years. And now that the anti-Israel administration of Barack Obama is no more, we’re calling on Mr. Trump to honor his campaign promise to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem without further delay.

Our hope is that the President announces during his visit to Israel next week that the U.S. will finally move its embassy to Jerusalem. We also want to see Mr. Trump use his historic journey to the Holy Land to make a formal declaration that the American government recognizes all of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

At 9:00 a.m. ET on Friday, we will begin the process of delivering “Move the U.S. Embassy” petitions to the White House and the Capitol. Before his historic visit, we want to encourage President Trump and congressional leaders to make a bold stand for our greatest ally in the Middle East. Make sure you’re included in this important petition delivery, by clicking here now.

While the President is in Jerusalem, Christians in Defense of Israel, in cooperation with Liberty Counsel, will be there as well to plant a flag of support for the nation of Israel! My wife Anita and I are leading a special Covenant Journey experience to train future leaders, while at the same time raising the profile of Christians in Defense of Israel as we meet with Israeli business leaders. We’ll explain more about our historic visit to the Holy Land in future emails.

God bless you. God bless Israel. God bless America.

Mat Staver, PresidentChristians in Defense of Israel

P.S. Again, Christians in Defense of Israel is petitioning the Trump administration and congressional leaders to move the U.S. Embassy to the City of David. Please join me in taking action on Israel’s behalf. I am confident that God has called us to strongly support the Jewish state, its people, and Jerusalem as the rightful and eternal capital of Israel “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). Make your voice heard by clicking here or on the banner below to instantly sign the national “Move the U.S. Embassy” petition: